Wisconsin farmers have a lot to deal with this harvest season. That includes record diesel prices averaging over $6.00 a gallon. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Randy Romanski said “farmers are feeling the impacts on their bottom line.” Romanski, interviewed during World Dairy Expo in Madison, said tariffs and retaliatory tariffs are depriving farmers of certainty when they need it most. “That uncertainty can have an impact on markets as well. So in Wisconsin, we try to do everything we can to create relationships with our businesses, but those trade variabilities are really a challenge right now with the decisions coming out of Washington, DC.”

The Wisconsin Farm Center can provide help for farmers who may be feeling stressed. “Farmers are able to receive 24/7 counseling with professionals that understand agriculture through the Farmer Wellness Program. And the use of the service continues to rise,” Romanski explained.

And Wisconsin continues to “punch above its weight” in export markets “Wisconsin just moved into the top ten in the exports of ag, food and forestry products. And this at a time where we’re seeing all this disruption in international markets because of trade policies” Romanski said the Wisconsin Initiative on Ag Exports, initiated by Governor Tony Evers in his first term provides state funding to help ag and forestry producers find export markets.